As many of you have heard our small community suffered a major mudslide last week. This comes right on the tail of the Thomas Fire. It has been unreal to watch family and friends lose loved ones. We are of course doing as much as we can to help.

We tried to explain it all to Eleanor. She goes to school in Montecito, and obviously hasn’t been able to attend, and has wondered why?. It’s hard to explain to a three year old what a tragic event it is.

Our hearts are broken, but we are a strong community that will rebuild.

We tried to bring happiness in this week, with it being such a hard and sad time. Here are some pictures of the week, and I included a few photos from firefighter, Mike Eliason, of the mudslide.

Hold your loved ones close and be kind to one another. Life can turn in an instant.

First, I want to thank everyone that follows along on this blog and/or on Instagram. It truly keeps me going some days. I love you all so much!

2017 proved to be the year of putting principles before personality. It was a true test for me, and not an easy one. It was a hard year, I’m not going to lie. Grateful for all of the lessons learned, but I’m definitely ready to move on.

Every aspect of my life was tested. My marriage, my business, parenthood, and myself. I spiritually grew stronger, not in a comfortable way, but in a “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” way.

I don’t want you to think I’m complaining, I’m not, I’m being honest. I heard a lot of “being my authentic self”, and “genuine” and a thousand other positive words on social media this year. While I think everyone gives it their best (their social media best), we still aren’t showing our “true” selves completely. I personally like to see the good, the bad and possibly the ugly. In my “real” life all three of those words can be seen at some point. I know everyone likes to keep it positive on social media, as do I, but once in a while sharing the “raw” truth is exactly what someone else needs to hear.

I remember going through IVF and having a miscarriage, two things everyone slides under the rug. I felt so alone and scared. No one talked about it. But, why? Why are we trying to be someone or something we’re not? Both of those things are mentally challenging for anyone who goes through them. You can’t deny that. Mothers (women) more than anything need each other during such a painful time.

Why do we criticize other peoples grammar or punctuation issues, which I have so before you start judging… Why? Why can’t we leave people alone and let them be who they are. Because, they don’t write, talk or say things like you do? Who cares?

My daughter goes to a school, which we love, but some of the mothers there are something else. It’s small and you see the same people everyday, but they can’t acknowledge you, say a quick hi, nope nothing. Instead they put their head down or look in another direction. Why? Are you too good to say hi? I don’t have as much money as you? Ego? It’s terrible, and that’s what we are teaching our children. They are little sponges soaking it all in. Yet, we want to raise kind humans. Well, news alert, you have to be one yourself.

We wonder why are country is loosing any such thing as community. It’s because in all honesty we don’t treat people the same. we judge, we ridicule, we’re opinionated, the list goes on and on…

Please, stop and pause before you make a judgement or do something you know isn’t right. You never know what a simple hello may do for someone.

2017 made me a pretty strong woman, but I’m ready to move forward and take on 2018. No resolutions, no dieting, no promises that I can’t keep. The one thing I will do as a promise to myself is work even harder on my spiritual growth. My spirituality has carried me a long way, and it is the one thing that never lets me down and helps me to become an even better person. I will also work on building community.

I wanted to take a moment to pop over here and tell you about a new venture I’ve added to the shop. Closet Editor, someone who comes and organizes your closet to make you feel good, free of chaos, and have an order to your clothing, accessories and shoes.

Standing in front of your closet, staring at what to wear in the morning, is something we all have done once or twice. (eye roll) I will come organize you to exactly what fits your personality. This is something that tends to go deeper than the surface.

Fashion is something that should make you feel good, support who you are. Your wardrobe should speak to you, every single piece. Sometimes we have a hard time getting rid of “stuff”, I’m here to help you organize the chaos. I want you to feel good when you get up and get in that closet of yours every day.

Sometimes you just need a little guidance, and that’s where I come in.

Looking forward to turning your life back to where it needs to be. Happy, simple and fun!

Please feel free to email me at shoplovethreads@gmail.com for any questions and a quote.

What more could you want! Pure, luxury sparkling water from New Zealand. I’m a huge water drinker. That is the one beverage I always have with me. So when Kopu reached out to ask if I’d like to try their water, I happily obliged.

I absolutely love it! It’s clean, refreshing and comes in the most aesthetically pleasing bottle. I will say I’m a picky water drinker, and a big water drinker. Call me crazy, but sometimes when drinking water out of a bottle you can get a little bit of an aftertaste. This is not the case with Kopu. Kopu has a clean, refreshing taste.

Here is a little snippet from their website;

KOPU is sourced from an aquifer thousands of feet below the dormant volcanoes of New Zealands Bay of Plenty. Our water is then infused with pure effervescence to create KOPU’s signature luxurious taste.

I’d love to hear your thoughts if you have tried Kopu, or if you do give it a try.

We just finished up celebrating Summer Solstice in Santa Barbara. Always such a fun and exciting time here! Visitors from all over come to Santa Barbara to celebrate this fun weekend of parties and parades. After all of that, I’m taking a much needed self-care Sunday.

I wanted to share an amazing skin care line with you. I’m a huge fan of self care. I often will post with the hashtag #selfcare or #selfcaresunday on Instagram. I think it’s important for women to take care of themselves. We have so much on our plates these days, that it’s important to nourish our own souls and skin 😉

One of my favorite lines is Mad Hippie. Mad Hippie formulates their products with two things in mind, safety and efficiency. Each bottle of goodness is packed full of anti-aging actives, all formulated to complement one another and work in synergy.

Here are my top favorites:

Cream Cleanser: This is a hydrating cleanser that softens and smoothes the skin. It’s wonderful for my ultra-sensitive skin. It also contains jojoba oil, which is a natural moisturizer that resembles our skins’s own lubricant, sebum, and is readily absorbed into the skin. This cream also contains, orchid extract, organic macadamia oil and algae extract. Yes, please!

Vitamin C Serum: This brighten, tighten and smoothes the skin vitamin c is a vital element in the production of collagen. It can help reduce wrinkles and discoloration. This is a great collagen maintenance. If you know me, you know I’m big on my collagen. This serum also contains vitamin E and ferulic acid, which is a natural antioxidant found in the cell walls of plants. Lastly, konjac root, which is an exotic Asian flower that soften and smoothes the skin while forming a protective barrier. Rich in so many nutrients.

Face Cream: This amazing face cream contains so many goodies that are good for moisturizing, collagen and wrinkle reduction. Some of the ingredients are: matrixyl synthe ‘6, which is an advanced peptide that works to naturally smooth the skin and reduce wrinkles. Syn-tacks, is another ingredient, which is a dual peptide complex that helps tone and firm the skin. Resveratrol, which is a super potent antioxidant found in grapes that helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles and protects the skin. Lastly, niacinamide, which is believed to inhibit the harmful effects of ultra violet rays, even skin tone and smooth the skin.

Even if you want to start with one, I recommend the serum. There are so many companies out there today that claim to do so many different things. I like Mad Hippie, because their line is simple, clean, and honest.

Start today by carving out at least one day a week, even if it’s an hour, to pamper yourself. Do an at-home facial, read a book, take a nap, cook, do whatever feeds your soul. You will notice in a short amount of time, that this precious time you carve out will not only become a healthy habit, but will also calm your mind, body and soul. So important in todays society.

If there is one thing people who know me well know, it’s that I’m a thorough investigator with things that I am deeply interested in. I think has something to do with my father being a former investigator. Runs in the family. Ha!

When I first came across Bulletproof, the company completely intrigued me. First I tried their coffee, which is amazing and one that we always have in our home. Then, I moved on to the brain octane oil. It’s a reliable and quick source of energy from fat, not sugar. It also helps your body burn fat. The best part, because I’m an overtired parent, it helps with mental clarity. Yes, please!

We’ve been using it for quite a while now, and I wanted to share a couple of different ways we incorporate into our lifestyle.

Smoothies, who doesn’t like a good smoothie. We make them often. Here is what we add…

1 cup of filtered water or more or less depending on what consistency you like. You can also add almond milk.

Blend it up and enjoy!

The other easy option for adding this amazing brain boost in, is salads. We eat our fair share of salads around here, so this is an easy one for us too. Here is a simple recipe for a yummy dinner salad…you can add your own measurements depending on how much you are making.

I’ve been pretty quiet around here lately. Life is so busy, truth be told, I’m having a hard time keeping up with this space. We’ve gone through some changes all around in the last 6 months, and I’m trying to just stay afloat. All is good and will eventually get better down the road, but for now I’ve really had to keep my focus on Love Threads, as that is our main income.

I will however try to keep up more consistently on here. As some of you know I love anything health. After battling a few less healthy lifestyles in the past, this is something that I care deeply about. I’m hoping to share yummy, healthy recipes and anything else that may come to mind.

If you’re still hanging around, thanks for your patience. Life has a funny way of pulling you in different directions when you least expect it.

Blend together and enjoy! Add the water slowly so you get the consistency that you like for your smoothies. I like mine thick!

Ok, reishi!! First off, it’s amazing! Reishi is an adaptogen, which means it adapts to stress and exerts a normalizing effect upon bodily processes.

Reishi is known as the “queen healer mushroom”. This potent herb is capable of helping the body to overcome any health challenges it may encounter, while improving its ability to resist stress. Promoting calmness, balance and inner strength. I love adding it to smoothies or making a tea.

I use Sun Potions reishi. I love their herbs and stand fully behind them. I also love that they are a local company in Santa Barbara.

Excited for the 72nd annual Santa Barbara Orchid Show! If you are local or live somewhere close to Santa Barbara, I highly suggest checking this show out! It will literally take your breathe away. Plus, I feel like anytime you’re around massive amounts of flowers the vibration is high.

The prestigious Show occupies 22,000 square feet of elaborate floor displays along with a 13,000 square foot international flower market. This provides a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet premier orchid growers from around the world. These growers are invited to exhibit and participate in the longest running show in the nation, which provides a unique experience each and every year! Here are 9 reasons why you should attend this year’s Show:

1. The Grand Exhibits. Some of the most vibrant, rare and exotic orchids collected from around the world are show-stoppers in The Grand Orchid Exhibits. Award-winning growers and societies both domestic and international let their prized plants shine and truly demonstrate the show’s theme, “Orchid Mystique.”

2. International Orchid Show Market. Event attendees have the opportunity to find blooms that otherwise might not be available. Many of the finest growers both from the US and from Tokyo, Ecuador, Brazil, Thailand, Colombia and Hawaii make their rare, unusual plants available for purchase in the Sales Area near the Exhibit Hall. From orchids for the beginning windowsill grower to rare species and hybrids for the serious hobbyist, the variety of orchids and supplies is astounding.

3. Interactive exhibits by the Santa Barbara Zoo. New to this year’s show will be a number of STEAM activities (science, technology, engineering, art and math) that will be hosted by the Santa Barbara Zoo. These include both an indoor and outdoor booth that will provide hands on fun and activities for children and adults of all ages.

4. Art Show. Talented artists will play on the theme of orchids at an exhibit that will be paired with the three-day event. Members of the Santa Barbara Art Association will let the allure of orchids serve a muse for their pieces that will add another dimension to the celebration of nature’s beauty and mysteries. Both paintings and photographs will be on display and available to purchase.

5. Demonstrations and Educational exhibits. Not just for the eyes and nose, but also for the brain. Potting demonstrations are scheduled throughout all 3 days, many of which are hosted by Master Gardeners. These give attendees the opportunity to see how the experts do it and to ask any questions they might have. Educational exhibits can be found throughout the Exhibit Hall. Past exhibits have shown how Vanilla extract is grown and produced. Another told the story of famed explorer Sir Joseph Hooker’s pursuit in the Himalayan foothills for the blue Vanda, Another displayed images taken using an Scanning Electron Microscope.

6. Floral Arrangements & Corsages Using orchids as their medium, local artisans will create stunning, themed floral arrangements and corsages from orchid blooms. The artisans tap their creativity to wow judges and vie for awards based on the principles of the Western School of Flower Arrangers.

7. Visit the Orchid Doctor. Have an orchid that has fallen out of optimal health? Orchid Doctor Bruce Kidd is available in the Exhibit Hall throughout the weekend to answer orchid questions. Kidd is past president of the San Diego County Cymbidium Society and can diagnose orchid issues and prescribe a plan of action to turn around the health of the sometimes temperamental plants.

8. Visit the Local Nurseries. Commercial orchid cultivation is an important part of the local horticultural scene. In conjunction with the SB International Orchid Show, many local nurseries offer tours and open houses, at which festival attendees can purchase thriving orchids directly out of the greenhouses where they’re grown and from the growers who take pride in their products. You can visit The California Orchid Trail website for more information HERE.

9. Attend the Cymbidium Conference. Attend the 42nd Annual Cymbidium Society of America Congress on Saturday, March 18th. Hear lectures by cymbidium and slipper experts, reconnect with friends (and make new ones), and enjoy the continental breakfast and luncheon, all right next to the Showgrounds. The Saturday evening gala includes reception banquet, auction, dinner, speakers and awards ceremony.

Many of you know or may not know, but for the last (almost) year I have completely submerged myself into getting back in shape and eating healthy. After having Eleanor and going through IVF , I gained a lot of weight. Completely worth it, but not what my (usually) smaller frame was used to. All of the meds associated with IVF really had my body feeling blah. So, last April, I made the decision to do something about it.

I started a local program here in Santa Barbara, called Jenny Schatzle Program. The first month was brutal. I had never worked out previously, I was lucky in that way. Or, maybe not. Ha! A girlfriend of mine completely convinced me that I would soon get “addicted” to it, I laughed! If you know me though, you know that I always follow through and I’m pretty strong-willed, so I was determined to fall in love with this beast.

The classes are all HIIT, which is high intensity with a mix of cardio and weights. My first class I literally thought I was going to puke. Even one of the trainers told me I looked a little white. But, I still came back again and again and long story short, I was becoming “addicted”.

I was also ready to gain “me” back again. I had put so much into trying to get pregnant, then being pregnant, having Eleanor and starting a business, that I forgot about taking care of myself, mentally, physically and spiritually.

I think mothers just naturally fall into this pattern. I remember saying, even when I was pregnant, that no matter what, I wouldn’t forget to take care of myself. Then, the baby comes and it’s all different. Even after seeing Eleanor thriving in my belly, I was falling into the common pattern. Completely fine, but I believe it’s important we don’t go years doing this, otherwise we do completely loose ourselves and it’s so hard to get back, if we ever do.

Approaching 40, I have to admit, I feel the best I have felt in years. My body looks good (yes, I’m tooting my own horn), my skin is coming back (from the weird acne you get from pregnancy and after), and I feel strong all around, physically, spiritually and mentally. All three very important for a healthy lifestyle, in my opinion.

Last week I shared some of my favorite workout shoes, today I wanted to share some of my FAVORITE workout pants. Ladies, they make your booty and body look good, no matter your size. Trust me! Here are my top picks that I own…

The other day I decided to bite the bullet and treat myself to a nice pair of workout shoes, and a fun pair too. (wink wink)

Of course, being in the fashion industry I wanted them to still look good, but also comfort is the name of the game, especially with the workouts I do. So my search began…

I saw a few in the magazines and on Instagram, but I decided to go search some out in person so I could try them on. I wanted a share a few below that I loved and the ones I ended up purchasing. By the way, I think I have a new obsession with sports shoes. So many cool ones out there!

I bought these and I’m in LOVE!! You guys!!!! BUY THEM!

Also, bought these! Love them even more in person and are super fun with all of my different workout leggings.

I’d love to hear if you have any that you just love. As I mentioned above, This is clearly my new thing.

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